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STATE OF CONNECTICUT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) STATE PLAN 2024-2026

Effective Date: 10/1/23 – 9/30/26 ☐ Initial Submission Date: 12/31/2023 ☒ Revision Date: 04/15/2024 Page: 34

WORK ACTIVITIES - SECTION A – PART III

Sec. 402(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act

(iii) – The Work Activities part describes how the state intends to ensure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance under the program engage in work activities in accordance with section 407 of the Social Security Act.

Please review Part I, Section D – Department of Labor – D.5. – Employment Services for further description of CT work requirement expectations.

Connecticut cash assistance recipients are required to engage in work activities as prescribed by their employability plans. Failure to participate without good cause results in a penalty being imposed on the non-compliant TFA recipient until such person becomes compliant with Jobs First Employment Services and their employability plan. The penalty shall continue until the noncompliant family member (1) begins to comply with employment services requirements, (2) becomes exempt from such requirements, or (3) demonstrates good cause for his or her failure to comply with such requirements. If only one member of a family is eligible for TFA and such member fails without good cause to comply with an employment services requirement, the penalty is a 25% benefit reduction in each month of non-compliance.

Work Activity Exception Due to Lack of Childcare The State may not reduce or terminate assistance based on the refusal of an individual to engage in required work activities if the individual is a single custodial parent, caring for a child under 13 years of age, and the individual proves that he or she has demonstrated an inability (as determined by the state) to obtain needed childcare for one or more of the following reasons: A. Unavailability of appropriate childcare within a reasonable distance from the individual’s home or work site. B. Unavailability or unsuitability of informal childcare by a relative or under other arrangements. C. Unavailability of appropriate and affordable formal childcare arrangements. In determining if a person meets the requirements of this provision, the following definitions apply: A. Appropriate childcare - care that meets the health and safety standards that are required for providers who receive payments under the provisions of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as mandated by Connecticut General Statutes 17b-749. B. Reasonable distance - care that can be accessed by public or private transportation that is available to the client without interfering with the parent’s ability to maintain employment. If transportation is not available, childcare must be within reasonable walking distance from the person’s home.